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William (Jay) G. Austen, Jr., MD, was appointed chief of the MGH Division of Burn Surgery on March 24.

Austen named chief of Burn Surgery

04/Apr/2014

Austen

William (Jay) G. Austen, Jr., MD, was appointed chief of the MGH Division of Burn Surgery on March 24. In addition to his new appointment, Austen will continue to serve as chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Austen succeeds Ronald Tompkins, MD, ScD, who has led the Division of Burn Surgery since 1990. Tompkins will remain at the MGH and lead the newly created research innovation unit, The Center for Surgery, Science & Bioengineering.

“I am honored to lead this extraordinary team,” says Austen. “This division has been an international leader in the evolution of burn care. I am very excited to be a part of the continued excellence and innovation for which they are well known.”

Austen has served as chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery since 2007. Under his leadership, novel clinical programs have been established including composite tissue transplantation and nerve decompression to treat patients with migraines.

In addition to his clinical expertise, Austen is an authority on device innovation and has led the development of numerous patents and prototypes related to anti-aging, rejuvenation and scar therapy. He also routinely treats patients at the Shiners Burn Hospital for Children.

“I am confident Dr. Austen will be an outstanding leader of Burn Surgery,” says Keith D. Lillemoe, MD, chief of the Department of Surgery. “Given the evolution in burn treatment – with an increased focus on reconstruction – deep collaborations between burn, critical care and plastic specialists are essential. Aligning the leadership of these important surgical divisions will support our mission to provide the very best treatments and care to patients with thermal injuries.”